A man last month rides his bicycle past murals painted on Grandmother’s House ofHerbs and Cures Education Center, 3600Morrison Road in Denver. The murals werepainted last year by girls in the Voz y Corazon program.

Looking at statistics on suicides hides a problem among young Hispanics living in the United States. Although Hispanic youths are less likely than non-Hispanics to commit suicide in Colorado and nationwide, they are the most likely to report having suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts.

“It’s pretty significant behavior,” said Lydia Prado, director of child and family services and cultural competence at the Mental Health Center of Denver.

Even if youths don’t actually kill themselves, planning and attempting suicide are signs of depression and anxiety — two large obstacles to learning and development that also increase odds those youths will engage in other risky behavior.

“The more they fall back in their development, the harder it is for them to ever get back on track,” Prado said. “And then you end up having that group that doesn’t graduate, the young girls get pregnant, they’re not earning a lot of money.”

Elizabeth Salas, 14, who was having problems with family, joined Prado’s Voz y Corazon program a year ago.

Voz y Corazon, which is Spanish for “voice and heart,” started in 2004 when the state was looking for programs that could curb high suicide rates. The program aims to reach youths early to lower their risk of becoming suicidal.

The program, open to anyone ages 11-18, has about 12 groups throughout the Denver metro area.

Even without being selective about who’s accepted, the program’s surveys show that about 35 percent of its youths are at high risk for suicide.

Participants meet weekly to work on art projects — and to talk. Once a year, the groups get a day of training where they also learn to identify problems and to reach out for help.

In her group, Salas recently learned to make ice cream. Another group was invited to paint a mural in southwest Denver last year.

“We try to come up with things that culturally resonate,” said Kathryn Harris, who used to be an artist with the groups and is now a liaison between the Sisters of Color organization and the Mental Health Center of Denver. “(Painting murals) is such a culturally time-tested, ancient practice. They loved it.”

Prado encourages biculturalism in the program as the most important foundation so youths can succeed.

“As you try to acculturate, you’re becoming different from your home culture, but at the same time, you’re not quite accepted in the dominant culture. That’s not the way to go,” Prado said. “They have to be proud first of who they are, and then learn to navigate the majority culture.”

Elizabeth said that before she entered the program, she didn’t know much about her parents’ Mexican culture. In the group, she learned about the tradition of Dia de los Muertos celebrations, which honor the dead.

Elizabeth, who has never had suicidal thoughts, said improving communication and knowing more about her culture has already brought her closer to her family.

“They helped me be more social because I was very quiet before,” she said. “Now I can give people my opinion, not just say yes or no.”

Yesenia Robles is currently a breaking news reporter for The Denver Post. She has covered education, crime and courts, and the northern suburbs. Yesenia was raised in Denver, graduated from CU Boulder, and speaks Spanish. Call her with your story ideas at 303-954-1372.

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